Saudi Arabia at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Last updated

Saudi Arabia at the
2012 Summer Olympics
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg
IOC code KSA
NOC Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee
Website olympic.sa  (in Arabic and English)
in London
Competitors19 in 5 sports
Flag bearers Sultan Mubarak Al-Dawoodi (opening)
Yousef Ahmed Masrahi (closing)
Medals
Ranked 79th
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Saudi Arabia competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's tenth appearance at the Olympics, except the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, because of its partial support to the United States boycott.

Contents

The Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games after the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Saudi Arabia also made a historic Olympic record by having two female athletes in the team for the first time, along with seventeen men playing for five different sports. Six athletes had competed in Beijing, including discus thrower Sultan Mubarak Al-Dawoodi, who became the nation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.

Saudi Arabia left London with only a bronze medal, won by the equestrian team members Ramzy Al Duhami, Abdullah Al Saud, Kamal Bahamdan, and Abdullah Sharbatly in show jumping.

Medalists

MedalNameSportEventDate
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Ramzy Al Duhami
Abdullah Al Saud
Kamal Bahamdan
Abdullah Sharbatly
Equestrian Team jumping 6 August

Female participation

In the previous games, Saudi Arabia had always sent exclusively male teams. Until recently, [1] women's participation in sports is greatly restricted within the country, and Saudi Arabia does not permit women to compete in the Olympics. [2] In June 2010, the International Olympic Committee said it would "press" Saudi Arabia (along with Qatar and Brunei) to "send female athletes to the 2012 Olympic Games for the first time". [3] Anita DeFrantz, chair of the IOC's Women and Sports Commission, suggested that the country be barred from participating in the Olympics until it agrees to send women athletes to the Games. In July, Qatar announced that it would include women in its delegation to the 2012 Games, thus "increas[ing] pressure on Saudi Arabia" to do the same. [4] The BBC remarked that "London 2012 may therefore see Saudi women Olympians for the first time. If not, it is conceivable the Kingdom may not be allowed to enter an all-male team". [2]

Saudi Arabia did send one female competitor to the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010. The International Olympic Committee had made it a requirement for every national delegation to include at least one female athlete. Dalma Rushdi Malhas, with her horse Flash Top Hat, took part in the individual jumping event in equestrian, and won a bronze medal, the country's only medal at those Games. [5] [6]

In November 2011, Al Arabiya reported that "Saudi Arabia plans to send a female equestrian team to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London to avoid being barred from taking part". Dalma Rushdi Malhas, it said, was likely to compete. [5] I.O.C. spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau, however, indicated that the Committee "would not mandate that the Saudis have female representation in London", arguing that "the I.O.C. does not give ultimatums nor deadlines but rather believes that a lot can be achieved through dialogue". [7] An unnamed senior sports official anonymously told Associated Press that sports authorities wished to develop women's participation in sports, but that they were "fighting deeply entrenched traditions". It was also confirmed that the Saudi national Olympic Committee would not prevent Malhas from competing at the London Games. More specifically, she would be permitted to compete if she were invited to the Games by the I.O.C., but Saudi Arabia would not be inviting her to do so itself. Instead, the country was preparing to select four male riders to send to the equestrian competition. [7] [8] (The sixth fundamental principle of Olympism as defined by the Olympic Charters states that "Any form of discrimination [...] on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement." The fourth principle states that "The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind". The seventh principle states that "Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter". [9] )

Wojdan Shaherkani at the 2012 London Olympics Wojdan Shaherkani London2012.jpg
Wojdan Shaherkani at the 2012 London Olympics

In late June 2012, the country announced that it would permit women's participation, and that its Olympic Committee would "oversee participation of women athletes who can qualify". At the time, Malhas was "the only Saudi female competitor at Olympic standard", making it likely that she would be the only woman Saudi participant in the Games. The BBC described the decision as "a huge step, overturning deep-rooted opposition from those opposed to any public role for women". It noted that the change had been "led by King Abdullah, who has long been pushing for women to play a more active role in Saudi society". [10] Malhas, however, stated she would not be able to compete in London, due to an injury her horse had suffered, but hoped to do so in 2016. [11]

The IOC announced in mid July 2012 that Saudi Arabia had entered two female athletes, Judoka Wojdan Shaherkani and 800m-runner Sarah Attar, to participate in the 2012 Olympics. [12] [13]

Athletics

Yousef Ahmed Masrahi (outer left lane) of Saudi Arabia in the 400 m semi-finals at the 2012 London Olympics Mens 400m semi final 3 - 2012 Summer Olympics.jpg
Yousef Ahmed Masrahi (outer left lane) of Saudi Arabia in the 400 m semi-finals at the 2012 London Olympics

Saudi athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard): [14] [15]

Key
Men
Track & road events
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Ali Ahmed Al-Amri 3000 m steeplechase 8:26.229did not advance
Moukheld Al-Outaibi 5000 m 13:31.479did not advance
10000 m 28:07.2517
Hussain Alhamdah 5000 m 14:00.4319did not advance
Abdullah Aljoud 14:11.1220did not advance
Yousef Ahmed Masrahi 400 m 45.433 Q45.917did not advance
Abdulaziz Mohammed 800 m 1:46.093 Q1:48.988did not advance
Emad Noor 1500 m 3:42.299did not advance
Mohammed Shaween 3:39.421 Q3:43.397did not advance
Field events
AthleteEventQualificationFinal
DistancePositionDistancePosition
Sultan Mubarak Al-Dawoodi Discus throw 59.5433did not advance
Women
Track & road events
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Sarah Attar 800 m 2:44.958did not advance

Equestrian

Jumping

Saudi Arabia has qualified a team.

AthleteHorseEventQualificationFinalTotal
Round 1Round 2Round 3Round ARound B
PenaltiesRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesRank
Ramzy Al-Duhami Bayard Individual 241 Q02=15 Q469 Q12=29did not advance1229
Abdullah Al-Saud Davos0=1 Q00=1 Q44=4 Q9=26did not advance926
Kamal Bahamdan Delphi1=33 Q12=15 Q5710 Q1=7 Q12424
Abdullah Sharbatly Sultan6=58 Q41051did not advance1051
Ramzy Al Duhami
Abdullah Al Saud
Kamal Bahamdan
Abdullah Sharbatly
See above Team 11 Q1314314Bronze medal icon.svg

Judo

Saudi Arabia has qualified 2 judoka.

AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Eisa Majrashi Men's −60 kg ByeFlag of Guyana.svg  Lall  (GUY)
W 0100–0000
Flag of Brazil.svg  Kitadai  (BRA)
L 0000–0021
did not advance
Wojdan Shahrkhani Women's +78 kg Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Mojica  (PUR)
L 0000–0100
did not advance

Shooting

Men
AthleteEventQualificationFinal
PointsRankPointsRank
Majed Al-Tamimi Skeet 11129did not advance

Weightlifting

Saudi Arabia has qualified the following quota places.

AthleteEventSnatchClean & JerkTotalRank
ResultRankResultRank
Abbas Al-Qaisoum Men's −94 kg 155151801733515

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Games</span> Major international multi-sport event

The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost sports competition with more than 200 teams, representing sovereign states and territories participating; by default the Games generally substitute for any World Championships the year in which they take place. The Olympic Games are normally held every four years, and since 1994, have alternated between the Summer and Winter Olympics every two years during the four-year period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Charter</span> Governing articles for the Olympic Games

The Olympic Charter is a set of rules and guidelines for the organisation of the Olympic Games, and for governing the Olympic movement. Its last revision was on the 17th of July 2020 during the 136th IOC Session, held by video conference. Adopted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it is the codification of the fundamental principles, rules and by-laws. French and English are the official languages of the Olympic Charter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Qatar has competed in 10 Summer Olympic Games. They have never competed in the Winter Olympic Games. Their first ever Olympic gold medal was won by Fares El-Bakh in weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics, followed by a gold medal for Mutaz Essa Barshim in men's high jump. They have also won one silver and four bronze medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabia at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Saudi Arabia has competed in twelve Summer Olympic Games. They first appeared in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. Saudi Arabia made their debut in the Winter Olympics in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Brunei, as Brunei Darussalam, first participated at the Olympic Games in 1988, with a single official but no athletes. The nation returned and sent athletes to compete in the Summer Olympic Games in 1996, 2000 and 2004. On each occasion, it was represented by a single athlete. Brunei has never won an Olympic medal and not participated in the Winter Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabia at the 2008 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Saudi Arabia competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. As in years past, Saudi Arabia sent only male representatives to Beijing. The International Olympic Committee is reportedly pressuring the Saudi Olympic Committee to send female athletes to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee</span> National Olympic Committee

Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee and the National Paralympic Committee representing Saudi Arabia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar Olympic Committee</span> National Olympic Committee

Qatar Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee representing Qatar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabia at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Saudi Arabia participated in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Qatar competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, which was held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The country's participation at London marked its eighth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its début at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation sent by the Qatar Olympic Committee consisted of twelve athletes in athletics, shooting, swimming and table tennis. The 2012 Games marked the first time Qatar sent female athletes to the Olympic Games; following the 2008 Summer Olympics, it had been one of only three countries, along with Saudi Arabia and Brunei, to never have done so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uzbekistan at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Uzbekistan competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from July 27 to August 12, 2012. This was the nation's fifth consecutive appearance at the Olympics. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan sent the nation's smallest delegation to the Games in the post-Soviet era. A total of 54 athletes, 36 men and 18 women, competed in 13 sports. There was only a single competitor in fencing, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics, shooting and tennis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahrain at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Bahrain competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This nation marked its eighth appearance in the Summer Olympics. However, there were concerns about the nation's participation to the games due to its recent political uprising.

Dalma Malhas is an equestrian. She was supposed to be the first Saudi female athlete to compete at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, which was held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The country's participation in London marked its fifth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut in the 1988 Summer Olympics. They returned to the Olympics after missing the 2008 games when it was the only country expelled from participating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wojdan Shaherkani</span> Saudi Arabian judoka (born 1996)

Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani is a Saudi judoka who was one of two women selected to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She was the first woman to represent Saudi Arabia at the Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosovo at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Kosovo at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

Kosovo participated at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 5 to 21 August 2016. It was represented by the Olympic Committee of Kosovo (KOK/OKK) with a delegation of eight people, including three men and five women. Most of them were awarded places in their respective sporting events through wild card entries and Tripartite Commission invitations. Two Kosovar athletes, on the other hand, qualified directly for the Olympics on merit: judoka Nora Gjakova and Majlinda Kelmendi, the lone returning Olympian on the team after representing Albania four years earlier in London. The world's top-ranked judoka in her weight category and the frontrunner for the country's first Olympic medal, Kelmendi was selected to become Kosovo's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Qatar competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's ninth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabia at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Saudi Arabia competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's eleventh appearance at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestine at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Palestine competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's sixth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Participation of women in the Olympics</span>

The rate of participation of women in the Olympic Games has been increasing since their first participation in 1900. Some sports are uniquely for women, others are contested by both sexes, while some older sports remain for men only. Studies of media coverage of the Olympics consistently show differences in the ways in which women and men are described and the ways in which their performances are discussed. The representation of women on the International Olympic Committee has run well behind the rate of female participation, and it continues to miss its target of a 20% minimum presence of women on their committee.

References

  1. "Female participation in sports up 150% in Saudi Arabia". Arab News. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Saudi women vie for Olympic rights", BBC, 13 June 2008
  3. "IOC to press Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Brunei", Associated Press, 29 June 2010
  4. "Qatar decision to send female athletes to London 2012 increases pressure on Saudi Arabia", Inside the Games, 1 July 2010
  5. 1 2 "Saudi Arabia likely to field women athletes in 2012 Olympics", Al Arabiya, 18 November 2011
  6. "Une ONG dénonce la privation de sport pour les Saoudiennes", Le Monde, 21 February 2012
  7. 1 2 "Ban Urged on Saudi Arabia Over Discrimination", New York Times, 15 February 212
  8. "Hurdles the biggest Olympic barrier for Saudi women", Associated Press, 18 February 2012
  9. Olympic Charter. (PDF) . olympic.org.
  10. "London 2012 Olympics: Saudis allow women to compete", BBC, 24 June 2012
  11. "Saudi Arabia to let women compete in Olympics for first time", CNN, 25 June 2012
  12. "Saudi female athletes to compete in London 2012". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  13. "London 2012 Olympics: Saudi Arabian women to compete". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  14. "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  15. IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – London 2012 ENTRY STANDARDS (PDF), IAAF, retrieved 4 June 2011